New Area

Well everyone, I am having a fantastic and very tiring week. There is always something to learn in the mission and I’m excited to do all I can to have success and do the work in my new area: Villas de Pachuca. This stake is the best for sure we have two other Elders that work with us in the same area. Our district is amazing I love it! My companions are great. Sister Nuñez is from Argentina and she’s a punk rock star who is so excited to have 2 American companions to teach her English. She loves to work hard but I think what I will have to teach her is to suck it up because she gets "sick" every day. I’m so cruel when it comes to illnesses because that’s what my trainer sister Cebreros taught me. it doesn't matter if you can’t eat, you can’t walk and you have diarrhea and can’t understand anyone or say anything we are going to go to work. So were working on that ;) I have yet to take a sick day for myself but every one of my companions has had to take a couple hours or so. She’s amazing at contacting and teaching with great power and love. I am so excited to know her and see where she goes in life. Sister Gererro is amazing bubbly prom queen. Seriously she showed me some photos but turns out we have a lot in common. She has a lot of excitement to learn. I’m the senior companion in this trio and my companions call me their cool aunt because I’m the one with experience and they love me because I make their beds and breakfast. But seriously we are the Power Puff Missionaries.

I love my ward and we are going to work miracles here. I feel it in my bones. I have so much to learn and I couldn't be more excited and optimistic to do it. I love Mexico and my Family.

I hope you all had a wonderful Father’s Day and didn't forget to say a special prayer for our Father in Heaven as well. Thank you for your prayers they get me through.

Oh update so Oscar is 10 years old and he is reading the Book of Mormon and wants to be baptized. He has good support in His home because his family had hard times but the church and following the commandments and listening to the missionaries helped their family a ton so his older sister, mom and grandma are members. They have a cute little boy who had a bad accident and they have had to operate a bunch of times on his brain but he is seriously adorable. He gave me an egg from their fridge. haha. Well, we are praying for Marta to get baptized she thinks she’s a member but hasn't been baptized. Susana is an amazing investigator who is super ready but she just has to go to church a couple times. This week we talked to loads of people and got to know the ward and area. We found two new investigators on our own and 2 others from references. I am practically fluent. mas o menos.(more or less) Sorry I can’t spell.

The most amazing thing about this week was getting to know my companions teaching by the spirit and our ward council. The ward council from our ward is the Bomb.com!! They are so awesome and we focus together to help build the missionary work. The bishop takes us to pick up our investigators. I am super happy and feel like my district is my family. And Sis. Shuckle from the CCM is a sister training leader and I love her!!! Wow I am so happy to get to know so many amazing hermanas. I know I am going to for sure visit Sis. Gererro because she is from Sacramento, California and it’s not too far. I don’t know if I will be able to visit Argentina. :( but there is always Facebook later.

Well I can’t think of much more well except that our house leaks gas and one night it was leaking a lot and we were afraid we were going to die so the we called our Elders and they told us to climb on the roof and shut off all the valves including our water. That was fun. The elders were telling sis. Nuñez what to do and she was explaining to me in Spanish I was looking up words so I could explain to Sis. Gerrero in English because she was the one on the roof. But we got it all figured it out.
I love you all thank you for the letters. I was just wondering if you could send me my other clothes I have for the summer time. I have practically all sweaters and thick dark skirts.  I’m dying a bit.
Love,
Hermana Mleynek

New Companions

I know it. I live it. I love it.

Well I have changes! This week I made two scarfs for me and my companion and we got loads of compliments :) my companion loves when I make funny faces she looks at them at night and laughs at me but I love it too. I feel super optimistic about being a trainer again...but I feel a bit scared and sad to leave my area I am going to miss the ward and also our converts. I hope that Raul and Angel and Jesus and Daniel get baptized. There is so much happening but I've learned and I've taught and it’s time to learn and teach with new peoples. I am loving being a missionary every single day of my life. I feel so good sharing the gospel and doing what my Father in Heaven wants me to do. I have learned to love with a great capacity and I am learning to be brave. I know I can trust my Father in Heaven with everything. I still have lots of trials and weaknesses but I’m super grateful for them. I know that God wants us all to be successful in life. This is the best 18 months of my life I hope you can all catch the wave and share the gospel of Jesus Christ like a trumpet. I know Jesus Christ lives and he will come again. I know my covenants tie me back to God and that keeping them gives me power. I know this church is true and is led and directed by Thomas S. Monson today a living prophet. I know it. I live it. I love it. Wherever you are on the path know that He knows you, He lives and He loves you. It’s something very small in comparison to what Jesus Christ gave but we can all follow His example and gain Eternal Life. Smile at someone and say hello with the genuine intent to be their friend World peace one family at a time.

Peace, Love and Missionary Hugs

Sister Mleynek
Hermana Mleynek

Great Week

Dear Peeps
Great Week this week except we keep having the same problem. We find new people, we teach them they accept a baptism date and then they don’t come to church! People come on...

Yeah so highlights:

1: Baptism of Gabriel, it was super great he was all in a suit and tie and everything but we forgot to tell him to bring a towel...ooops :) He has such a strong disposition to do what is right. He’s learning very quickly but he’s going to need a lot of support because he hardly has anyone in his life. He said how grateful he is to start this new life after his baptism and to have his ward family. I am so happy for him to find peace and joy. I wish many great things for him. It is amazing to see how people who have hearts to feel and eyes to see the influence of God in their life can change and give so much to feel His love. I don’t know if there is a more powerful or beautiful feeling than the Love of God.

2: Missionary Activity. We had a Museo de Cera or wax museum which really is people standing really still and it was all about the History of the Church. We had a lot of people say how much they liked it and we have 35 new referrals. Sorry nobody took any pictures but it was seriously epic and I was so excited people were listening to us.

3: Haha I got a marriage proposal well...I guess this isn't a highlight but it was pretty funny/ embarrassing. Well so we were cleaning the baptismal font for the baptism and while it was filling with water we went to make copies of something and when we were coming back this guy named Allan was kind of staring into the open gate of the church so we invited him to come see and he said sure! Well Allan was super cool and spiritual, he’s catholic but doesn't believe in worshiping the saints and he knows a super lot about the earthly ministry of Christ and the church Christ established. He likes the doctrine of the Mormons. The Christians and his Catholic Church think we should all form together into one. We tried to explain how great an idea that was and how we have a prophet and that this is the only true church etc...we invited him to church and took his information. And as we were escorting him out he asked if I could marry Him. :) but then Allan came with his brother and cousin to the missionary activity and the missionaries giving the tour were super impressed with him so Hopefully he becomes a legit investigator. I believe he could be a future 70 or something if he converts.

4: Our investigators are reading the Book of Mormon. As a mission we finished the Book of Mormon this past week and my testimony of the role the Book of Mormon plays in conversion really was strengthened. I know me and my companion are planting many seeds for others to come to the knowledge and eternal happiness the gospel can bring. I love the Book of Mormon I know it is true and the most powerful testimony of Jesus Christ that we have on the Earth at this time. I know the people in the Book of Mormon also exist. I know they wrote what they wrote for us to have today. We have investigators named Raul and Orlando and I can just tell their faith is building in the Lord Jesus Christ every time we open that precious book. It is the key to our religion and a rock and sure testimony. The Holy Ghost bears record of the words of Christ. Fill your spirit until you have a perfect hope in Christ and a love for God and your fellow man. 2 Nephi 31.

5: We’re going to go play soccer- football with our Zone in a minute
Love You ALL thank you for your letters and updates from home they bring a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart. :) Peace, Love and missionary Hugs

Hermana Mleynek

So this is Daniel our new convert he always has a serious face but he is not super serious so we took pictures smiling for once ;) he goes with us to visit less actives and even helps in the lessons and gives his testimony. He wants to serve a mission!! He went on a camping trip with the young men this week end. Me and my companion had rotten luck and were in the combi solo with no one to talk to so we took a couple pictures. Later we did contact some peoples and the driver :)

Our baptism of Gabriel was super spiritual and wonderful. Not many members came but we are hopeful about the future of this strong new member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints :)  The other pic is of me and my companion waiting for our meeting with our mission leader.

Working Hard to Find Contacts

Dear Family, Friends and Familiars,
Wow what a great week. This Sunday I felt super chill because we didn't have to speak or sing or give a class in church. We were super sad though because we had three baptismal dates this week and 3 “Si!!! I will come to church this week,” and then none were there. We are not sure what happened yet.
We have been having some interesting problems in our house right now one of which is that our boiler exploded and burned off the eyelashes of my companion.

She was...is pretty upset about that. This is an old photo from the camera of Sis.Suazo of us making pies in the house of a member Sis Camacho for less actives and one of our investigators. We are teaching more but right now we’re a little bit worried about having baptisms for June because we don’t have any for sure.

We have a baptism this week for Gabriel! He is super dedicated to his baptism. I know the Lord is helping him so much. He’s had some pretty awesome experiences with the spirit and his testimony is growing very quickly. I just hope he can make some really solid friendships in the church he knows a bunch but the ward NEEDS to take more interest.

I’m doing well feeling good. This week I have worked a lot harder on contacting people and talking with everyone in combis and taxis, etc. It’s working out very good. I feel super happy and lots of people have accepted to talk with us only three are from our area so we’re passing a lot of references. I feel super great in this area my companion and I have been getting along. We had intercombios with our sister trainers and they went great I learned a lot.

I love you all it’s great to hear from you all. I’m sorry I hardly ever write anyone but I just don’t have loads of time. I pray and think about you all. Yes that includes you reading this. I Love Jesus Christ and all he has done for me and working hard to help others make the difference in their lives, families and homes.

Daniel, our new convert, gave his first talk in sacrament meeting about his favorite prophet in the Book of Mormon. It was super good. I enjoy his sincere testimony. He looks you in the eye and tells what he believes and you can feel it in your soul. We invited his older brother Angel to listen to us and we have an appointment Wednesday whoo! Hna Lucila seemed pretty excited about it :)

We had a family home evening last night and went super well because we had 4 investigators come and I wanted to show a video about prophets or the Book of Mormon but my companion doesn't like to listen to me and she showed a video about defending your faith which brought everyone into the discussion of how it’s all the same God and we can be in whatever religion and have good values...which I knew would happen and that’s why I didn't want to watch that video but we still felt to spirit and I shared a scripture about the importance of families and we’re hoping little by little if they will just come to church they can see how much better it is.

Satan is everywhere now days you can’t every let him in even a little or he will destroy us, especially in the home. The home is sacred a place for peace and love we cannot permit any evil. I don’t want to sound like I’m trying to judge but I can just so plainly see how when we compromise with Satan and say oh this okay because it’s not totally bad that’s the real danger because then we begin to think like Him and our sense of moral sensitivity can become skewed...well that’s an interesting rant. I hope you all have a fabulous week.
Love,
Hermana Mleynek

Hno. Irving - Ward Mission Leader

We Are One

Wow what a great week except my companion was sick twice but at least I wasn't sick, except I kind of was. We had an amazing zone conference with the mission president and his wife from Argentina, the Walkers, who came and spoke with us. They are the bomb. Argentinians speak Spanish but every time there is a double ll in Spanish it sounds like sh. For example: Nuestra llamamiento in spanish in mexico ll is y, but in Argentina its sh. super cool and funny }:)

I hope everyone is doing super well. My companion and I had some super ambitious goals this week but it turned out we didn’t have any time because of visas, a capacitacion, conferencia para la consejo de barrio (a training conference for ward council), a surprise planning meeting for missionaries and our Baptism Whoo!! Happy Birthday Elder Legler we helped a sweet soul come unto Christ. So we didn’t come close to meeting our goals but I feel super good none the less.

We are working with Gabriel and trying to find new people. We have received loads of references and talking to loads more people but nothing yet. My prayers are a lot more specific and I am truly enjoying the work of the Lord. I urge all of you to help out the missionaries in your ward they are in wards for a reason. The missionary work is the responsibility of everyone. I gave a talk in sacrament meeting this week on Priesthood and also we gave a capacitacion de los miembros acerca de la obra missional (training of members on the missionary work). Somos Uno! Yaya! We are one and we can all work together.

Today me and my companion felt like cooking because were super poor and can’t buy food :) but I am trying to be healthier.

The baptism of Lucila was super special because her son Daniel got to baptize her. He has only been a member 1 month!! I love the mission as always every new area, companion and ward has its difficulties but I got to tell you contention is of the devil so don’t do it. I don’t care if you’re right or wrong. Well that’s random. Well I have loads more to say but it’s time to go. So see you all next time.

Commitments Are Super Important

Hello World! I’m sorry this letter is going to be a bit dry. I’m so exhausted but I am going to try to give you all a good report and some juicy details.

Well the week started off fantastic, 5 lessons on Sunday, we were on fire and feeling good. We got a reference to a house in our neighborhood and found of that no one lives there...Great! We had a lesson with two of our investigators that are super interested but not yet progressing as far going to church...so were trying to keep them excited about going to church because they have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. Which is super great. I am always amazing by the power of the Book of Mormon, we take it for granted. As a mission we are reading the Book of Mormon together. We visited a less active family and got to teach two of their cousins the first lesson.  We’ll see how that goes. I was really surprised how little the family actually knew about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so were teaching that to practically everyone because it is muy importante.  We also are visiting this super intellectually know it all who’s is always flirting with us but his questions are super good and he is keep the commitments we’re giving him. Commitments are super important. There are a thousand and five easy reasons not to do something but if we teach the reason why and then COMMIT them to doing something their faith grows soo much. Daniel our new convert is super active in seminary and is even going on visits to other less active young men in our ward to help teach. And He wants to serve a mission. His older brother is being pretty consistent again in the church.

Speaking of consistency, this Thursday we had a zone conference and it was all about consistency and it was Great!! I feel so much more desire to endure and be more consistent in all the sometimes demanding work of being a missionary. We tried visiting some other possible progressing investigators but it didn't really amount to anything as of yet. We started visiting a new investigator his name is Raul. He is a bit troubled but in a good way....because he feels lost spiritually and he left his other church because they didn't help him progress as a person. He has begun praying and reading the Book of Mormon so we’re going to help him fill the void that he has in his life, that we all have at one point in our life.

We had a cool activity this week in the church for Mother’s day. A production of songs, dances and a drama performance about mothers that was super funny. It’s cool how you don’t actually have to understand what is said to have a good laugh. And we celebrated 3 birthdays of our investigators this week. I am getting along with companion more. Okay and one day we were looking for people to teach and absolutely no one was home. We went everywhere! So we start looking through our list of less active and we remember one that we told a sister we would look for. So we get to the house super far away and no one is home like everyone else. BUT we go the neighbors on both sides! AND! No one is home either BUT we go to the house two doors away and a man answers and he tells us to wait a second so he can put on a shirt. And we kind of shrug our shoulders Okay that’s fine! Then he introduces himself, “I’m Lemuel and I’m a member.”  Seriously?! He is inactive and has only lived here in the neighborhood for 1 month. He was nice but was kind of like, "Oh no. how did they find me." He’s an engineer and is never at home and he is the only member in his family. Caching! We were absolutely amazed at the power of the Lord. He has a way of doing His work and He obviously has a message for this brother. ;)

This Sunday Gabriel couldn't come to church because of work!!  So now we have to move his baptism to the 30th of May. I think it’s okay though because like we have seen before the Lord has a plan far more perfect than we could ever come up with. We brought a member of the priesthood and his wife to visit Gabriel. He was super excited about his baptism and at the end of the lesson he asked for more homework in the Book of Mormon. We gave him a pamphlet for the plan of salvation and scripture marking pencil to begin the Book of Mormon from the beginning. We gave a lesson of the Holy Ghost and he expressed some personal experiences that caused him a bit alarm...Satan working against him. So the brother with us, Bro. Ruben, gave Him a blessing and it was so powerful. The room was absolutely glowing with fuzzy feeling and Gabriel was super emotional and grateful and in the blessing it was said that Gabriel was chosen in the life before this one to learn and accept the gospel and that he could have the blessing to know the church was true. This Saturday we have the baptism of Lucila the mom of Daniel. She is doing super well and she has such a great testimony of the church she really gets it, she’s a very genuine person. She also gave me and my companion shirts she bought for us.

Lessons Learned

I am feeling pretty swell about our area. We have two baptisms coming up and we are working hard to change the world. I feel so much happiness to see people understand the message we bring. I know that we are not here to convince anyone we are simple here to invite others to come unto Christ and change their lives for the better and forever. When I have this in my mind I find it much easier to share what I know and the feel confident. Maybe not everyone understands but there are choice children of God prepared to receive this message. I've had challenges and I have had success in the mission, my testimony grows every day. I know there is no other way to become more like our savior without suffering so I do what I do with a smile on my face and in my heart. I have been thinking  a lot about some of the lessons learned as a child and I realize how much they have helped me to grow as a person and also help others progress in life. I’d like to share two:

1. I’d be happy to Mom
2. Shelby No one can make you do anything

The first lesson has helped me very much in the mission because to be a disciple and representative of Christ we don’t just need to be obedient we need to have true motivation. When I do something for you out of obligation it doesn’t profit me but when I do something because I love the person I can find true happiness. Jesus Christ suffered, taught, gave freely all that he had: his time, his heart, his blood. Our Heavenly Father asks us to be obedient and we need to be so because we love Him. I love Him.

2. Many make the mistake of waiting all their lives to be happy. I know that happiness is a choice. I know that if I choose to be happy right now and always, I will always be happy. But if in my mind and heart I am always waiting for something...happiness will never come. There will always be trials. In the mission I am learning to give all of my heart, might, mind and strength. I am a missionary I know it. I live it. I love it.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there. The world would perish without your moral courage and authority. I am grateful to many noble and great women in my life.